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Bhubaneswar: Clearing the doubts engulfing the efficacy of COVID vaccines, the original blood sample of Dr. S Suleiman, who was tested positive for COVID-19 through RT-PCR test at IGH Rourkela last month even after receiving two doses of Covishield vaccines, came out negative at Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) on Sunday.
The negative result came as a much needed relief for the government, which is on a vaccination spree in the State and can little afford any negative feedback of the vaccines said to be mostly effective.
As per reports, following Suleiman's positive report at Rourkela, his repeat RT-PCR test was conducted at RMRC, Bhubaneswar on Saturday and the result came out negative for Covid. Also, his antibody test at RMRC showed presence of very high antibody.
However, the RMRC has re-tested the original sample which came positive for Covid at IGH, Rourkela and the results came out to be negative on Sunday, confirming to the erroneous test conducted at Rourkela.
According to sources, the doctor had taken the first dose of Covishield on January 16 and second on February 15. However, he developed cough and went for a rapid antigen test which came out Covid-19 positive. He then went for RT-PCR test, which also confirmed his Covid-19 positive status.
Erroneous results from coronavirus tests are becoming an increasing concern for doctors as well as patients. Earlier, 25 students of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) at Burla were reported positive for COVID-19 even though they were negative. Additional chief secretary (Health) Pradipta Mohapatra on March 2 claimed that the positive reports came due to faulty coronavirus testing kits.
Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) had issued show-cause notices to two firms who had supplied the kits to VIMSAR, Burla. However, one of the firms, Oscar Medicare, today claimed that the kits supplied by it were not faulty.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
